I love helping children talk. It is one of the most rewarding things about my job. As a parent hearing my children speak their first words has filled my heart and soul with more joy and pride than anything else I have experienced. Don't get me wrong, there are MANY things that my children do that give me delight and pride. But hearing those words... Those first sweet words. It is amazing... And discovering that your child is beginning to understand the world around them and learn that they can control their environment with their words. Oh my... THAT is amazing too! Communication is such a gift and blessing.
It's funny that I am so excited about this now. I think I had forgotten what hearing those first sweet words feels like.
I bet you can see where I am going with this... My daughter, who is 11 months, is beginning to talk. Just this past week she has not only learned to express the words all done, she has learned the concept of all done. She is so cute! She signs with her little hands all done and verbalizes her own little version of the adult word ("ah daw") at the table when she is finished eating and when you are holding her and she wants down. It is absolutely precious.
Every child's first words are different. However, all first words are words that a child hears frequently in his/her environment. They are words that have become part of their routine. They're familiar. My daughters first words are words that she hears over and over on a daily basis: all done, dada, bubu, mama, ot-o, and fish (we have a picture of fish in our stairway and we have developed a routine of stopping and touching the fish ("dis") when we go up and down the stairs).
SpeechPathology.com has a good article on first words that reviews research on typically developing children, children who are late talkers, and children with developmental delays and it compares the lexical diversity among the three groups.
First Words: From Theory to Intervention Susan Hendler Lederer, Ph.D., Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
I hope you enjoy the article.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Updated Language Development Chart
I have added additional information to the language development chart. Feel free to review it. I hope that the clarifications and additions increase your understanding...
Friday, November 19, 2010
Early Literacy
Recently, I found the website ZERO TO THREE. I must say it IS a GREAT website. There are so many wonderful things included in the site. Today it has a download on early literacy. The download includes some wonderful information on early language and literacy development, what infants and toddlers can do, and how early literacy is NOT early reading. Additionally, it had a great break down of what young children like (or prefer) in books.
I have added the site in my links. Feel free to investigate for yourself. I don't think you will be disappointed.
I have added the site in my links. Feel free to investigate for yourself. I don't think you will be disappointed.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
20 Ways To Talk So Your Kids Will Listen (Child Development Institute)
20 Ways To Talk So Your Kids Will Listen (Child Development Institute) is well worth the time to read. It has some great information and advice.
Personally I found it refreshing and apparently I needed a little refreshing on healthy and effective communicating. The article (if that is what I should call it) reminded me to use the tools I have and to re-evaluate how I am speaking to my children and family. We all have moments when we tend to regress into less effective ways to communicate with our children (and other adults).
Recently I have noticed that my son has been yelling more. Screaming that he WANTS to watch another one of HIS shows (I limit his TV) or that HE is MAD at me (mostly, because I won't let him watch TV). Where is this behavior coming from? I know that I am not the only person that my child is exposed to (learns from), but I am the one who he is with the most. So he must be learning it from me...
Since I believe that owning something (taking responsibility for something and admitting that you are wrong or have made a mistake) is the first step needed to make positive change I need to let you know that when I am over stressed or tired I tend to raise my voice.
BINGO. See? He IS learning it from me!! (insert sick feeling in mothers stomach)
I don't do this often but I do indeed do it. Especially lately, as my family is going through some changes (a possible move in a FEW WEEKS) that are adding stress to our lives. Maybe you can relate... Maybe you haven't slept in months and you can't seem to find a second for yourself, and when you ask your three year old (in a calm and direct tone) to go downstairs he/she just stands still. When he/she does this you snap and instead of turning off the television and kneeling down to his/her level (which is much more effective and respectful) you yell, "GET DOWN STAIRS!"
Yelling is not the most effective way to communicate. I know this... But even though I know more effective ways to communicate and I work very hard at trying to implement them I still regress. Now before I yell I will remind myself of this feeling (that sick feeling) and remember that I can make a better choice. I will take a breathe... and remember to use the skills I have learned.
Personally I found it refreshing and apparently I needed a little refreshing on healthy and effective communicating. The article (if that is what I should call it) reminded me to use the tools I have and to re-evaluate how I am speaking to my children and family. We all have moments when we tend to regress into less effective ways to communicate with our children (and other adults).
Recently I have noticed that my son has been yelling more. Screaming that he WANTS to watch another one of HIS shows (I limit his TV) or that HE is MAD at me (mostly, because I won't let him watch TV). Where is this behavior coming from? I know that I am not the only person that my child is exposed to (learns from), but I am the one who he is with the most. So he must be learning it from me...
Since I believe that owning something (taking responsibility for something and admitting that you are wrong or have made a mistake) is the first step needed to make positive change I need to let you know that when I am over stressed or tired I tend to raise my voice.
BINGO. See? He IS learning it from me!! (insert sick feeling in mothers stomach)
I don't do this often but I do indeed do it. Especially lately, as my family is going through some changes (a possible move in a FEW WEEKS) that are adding stress to our lives. Maybe you can relate... Maybe you haven't slept in months and you can't seem to find a second for yourself, and when you ask your three year old (in a calm and direct tone) to go downstairs he/she just stands still. When he/she does this you snap and instead of turning off the television and kneeling down to his/her level (which is much more effective and respectful) you yell, "GET DOWN STAIRS!"
Yelling is not the most effective way to communicate. I know this... But even though I know more effective ways to communicate and I work very hard at trying to implement them I still regress. Now before I yell I will remind myself of this feeling (that sick feeling) and remember that I can make a better choice. I will take a breathe... and remember to use the skills I have learned.
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